Ian Dunbavin
Squad Number: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st
Born: Knowsley
Career (63 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Liverpool (0/0), Shrewsbury Town (63/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 30/0
Details: Former Liverpool trainee goalkeeper who moved to Gay Meadow three years ago to the month. He was unlikely to break through into the Reds first-team with the plethora of international shotstoppers at Anfield, and so moved south, although during his time on Merseyside he did play alongside Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard in their F.A. Youth Cup triumph. The 2002/3 campaign is Dunbavin’s first full season between the sticks in Shropshire, and he has kept four clean sheets so far. He has a sound coaching heritage, since Joe Corrigan was his master whilst with ‘Pool.
Darren Moss
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st
Born: Wrexham
Career (73 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Chester City (42/0), Shrewsbury Town (31/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 24[4]/2
Details: Welsh-born right-back who has been converted into a right-sided midfield player by Shrews boss Kevin Ratcliffe, Moss was signed in the summer of 2001. In doing so he followed his manager down from Cheshire, and his conversion was down to experimentation in the Reserve side during the early part of last season. However, after a little while, he was ready to perform in the first eleven, and he went on to make over thirty appearances in the side throughout the season. At the time of his signing for Shrewsbury, Aston Villa were widely rumoured to have been interested, and that is a mark of the young man’s pedigree, although he has not linked up with the Welsh Under-21 squad yet. Moss is looking to get forward more often this year, and he has doubled his career goals tally already this season.
Andy Thompson
Squad Number: 3
Position: Defender
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 4ins Weight: 10st 11lbs
Born: Cannock
Career (517 League Appearances/ 48 Goals): West Bromwich Albion (24/1), Wolverhampton Wanderers (376/43), Tranmere Rovers (96/4), Cardiff City (7/0), Shrewsbury Town (14/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 13/0
Details: Experienced defender on the mend having been injured during the past few weeks, and likely to be involved in the squad again for Tuesday’s encounter. With over 500 League appearances to his name, there are few that can match his knowledge and reading of the game. Thompson started his career as an apprentice at West Brom, making his debut in the 1985/6 season. Two years later he had switched Black Country clubs and joined Wolves. During his eleven years at Molineux, he helped guide the club from the old Fourth Division to the old Second, and onto the verge of the Premiership on three separate occasions, supplying former England striker Steve Bull with a number of his goals. His 376 matches realised 43 goals himself, but in 1997/8 he moved to Tranmere. He made over a hundred appearances for Rovers before an unsuccessful year with Cardiff. In January 2002 he signed for the Shrews, and he has nearly thirty appearances to his name to date.
Jamie Tolley
Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Age: 19 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 10st 8lbs
Born: Shrewsbury
Career (49 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Shrewsbury Town (49/3)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 22[1]/1
Details: Local-born midfielder with two Welsh Under-21 caps to his name already, Tolley has loads of potential, as proved by his record as the second youngest senior performer for Shrewsbury, trailing by just 16 days to Graham French when he made his debut at 16 years and 193 days old against Oxford United in the F.A. Cup in November 1999. The next year he made his League debut, and spent his time improving in the Reserves. Since then, he has made over fifty appearances for the Gay Meadow side, and was called into the Welsh Under-21 squad as a reward for his shining performances. This season has seen Tolley consolidate a regular place in the Shrews midfield, and there is certainly much more to come.
Matthew Redmile
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 14st 10lbs
Born: Nottingham
Career (215 League Appearances/ 12 Goals): Notts County (147/7), Shrewsbury Town (68/5)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27/0
Details: Born in Nottingham, Redmile joined local side Notts County as a youngster, progressing through their ranks to make over 150 appearances in all competitions for the Meadow Lane side. During his time with the Magpies, he was the subject of a transfer bid from Premiership Chelsea, but it was to Shrewsbury that the big central defender moved in January 2001 for £30,000. He has been virtually ever-present since, raking up almost a century of matches for the Shrews. Dependable, solid, with his fair share of pace and skill, Redmile is close to the perfect Third Division defender.
Steve Jagielka
Squad Number: 7
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 11st 3lbs
Born: Manchester
Career (142 League Appearances/ 14 Goals): Stoke City (0/0), Shrewsbury Town (142/14)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 4[6]/0
Details: An attacking midfielder who has filled in as a striker on occasions, Jagielka is in his sixth season at Gay Meadow, although he is struggling to gain a starting berth on a regular basis this time around. The surname is Polish, although he was born in Manchester. Having started his first few seasons in pro football at Stoke and Shrewsbury as an out-and-out striker, Ratcliffe’s decision to employ the speedy player as a winger in recent campaigns has been far more successful, and the past two-and-a-half seasons have seen a marked improvement in Jagielka’s goalscoring. As a right winger he has netted eleven goals as opposed to just three up front.
Mark Atkins
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 34 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 5lbs
Born: Doncaster
Career (491 League Appearances/ 50 Goals): Scunthorpe United (48/2), Blackburn Rovers (257/35), Wolverhampton Wanderers (126/9), York City (10/2), Doncaster Rovers (0/0), Hull City (8/0), Shrewsbury Town (42/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 30/2
Details: Experienced, and well-travelled central midfielder who is most easily recognisable from his time at Blackburn. Whilst with Rovers, Atkins score 35 goals in 257 League games from 1988 to 1995. In that time he was a key figure in Jack Walker’s revolution at Ewood Park, helping the team to second in the Premier League in 1993/4 and then going one better the next season. During that season Atkins also tasted UEFA Cup action. With that experience behind him, it was a surprise that Ray Harford let him go just four games into the 1995/6 campaign. Interchanging between a role in the centre of the park and on the right hand side, Atkins spent four years trying to haul Wolves into the Premiership, but having failed to do so, he spent short spells in the Third Division York, Doncaster and Hull. A former England Schoolboys international, whose transfer to Wolverhampton cost the Molineux club £1 million, Atkins has been almost ever present in the Shrews first team since his signature was captured in May 2001.
Luke Rodgers
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 10st
Born: Birmingham
Career (70 League Appearances/ 30 Goals): Shrewsbury Town (70/30)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 26/13
Details: The main threat in the Town side, Rodgers ended last season with 22 goals from 38 starts in the Third Division. This year he has not quite been so prolific, but two exquisite goals at Roots Hall led to Blues boss Rob Newman rating him at £2 million and ensured that Shrewsbury won 3-2. Having said that, Rodgers already has 13 goals to his name this season. Sent off the season before at the Hall, his temperament can get the better of the little terrier, but most often his tenacious nature means that he finds it easier to capitalise on the oppositions mistakes. Quick on the ground, and strong with it, the striker is extremely hard-working, and having signed a contract until 2005, will be frightening Third Division defences for a few years to come.
Nigel Jemson
Squad Number: 10
Position: Forward
Age: 33 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 13st
Born: Preston
Career (368 League Appearances/ 93 Goals): Preston North End (32/8), Nottingham Forest (47/13), Bolton Wanderers [loan] (5/0), Preston North End [loan] (9/2), Sheffield Wednesday (51/9), Grimsby Town [loan] (6/2), Notts County (14/1), Watford [loan] (4/0), Coventry City [loan] (0/0), Rotherham United [loan] (16/5), Oxford United (68/27), Bury (29/1), Oxford United (18/0), Shrewsbury Town (69/25)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 25[1]/12
Details: Rodger’s partner in crime is a nomadic journeyman professional, who has played for no less than twelve Football League clubs during his nineteen year career, scoring at a rate of a goal every four games over its entirety. Starting his career at home-town club Preston as a sixteen-year-old, Jemson spent three years at Deepdale before moving to Nottingham Forest. His five years at the City Ground effectively culminated at Wembley in the 1991 F.A. Cup Final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, in a season where he netted eight goals in 23 games. The year before he had represented England against Wales in an Under-21 international, and scored the winner in Forest’s 1-0 League Cup victory over Oldham. He moved north to Yorkshire and Sheffield Wednesday, where he stayed for three years before moving to Forest’s rivals Notts County. His time at Meadow Lane was blighted by numerous loan spells, and three years apiece at Oxford (who he rejoined in 1999/2000) and Bury brought little more success, although he did score 18 at the Manor Ground in 1996/7 to ensure survival in Division One. As a result, and approaching his century of games for the Shrews, his current time at Gay Meadow is the longest of his career, and he has repaid Kevin Ratcliffe’s faith in him by finding the net over thirty times, whilst also becoming club captain. Ten days ago, he scored twice to propel the Shropshire side to their shock 2-1 win over Premiership Everton in the Third Round of the F.A. Cup.
Sam Aiston
Squad Number: 11
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 26 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st
Born: Newcastle
Career (138 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Sunderland (20/0), Chester City [loan] (14/0), Chester City (11/0), Stoke City [loan] (6/0), Shrewsbury Town [loan] (10/0), Shrewsbury Town (77/4)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 1[4]/0
Details: Attacking winger who had trials with Newcastle United as a youngster, but ended up joining north-east rivals Sunderland. Whilst at the Stadium of Light he twice had three-month loan spells with Kevin Ratcliffe’s Chester City, and after 20 games for the Black Cats (and 41 whilst on loan to Chester, Stoke and Shrewsbury), he signed for Town for £50,000 in July 2000. An exciting player whilst on the ball, Aiston had won the fans over during his loan spell at Gay Meadow, and in the next two seasons he was a fixture in the side, scoring a couple of spectacular goals early on in his Shrews career. However, this year a place in the side has been hard to come by, and his appearances have been restricted to coming off of the bench.
Peter Wilding
Squad Number: 12
Position: Defender
Age: 34 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 9lbs
Born: Shrewsbury
Career (160 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Telford United (no figures available), Shrewsbury Town (160/4)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 10[6]/3
Details: Another experienced defender, Wilding did not get his chance in League football until August 1997, when he joined Shrewsbury for £10,000 from non-League Telford United. Well-built, and with great versatility, the centre-back was quickly installed in the starting line-up, but since Kevin Ratcliffe has arrived he has seen his appearances slowly dwindle. Nevertheless, Wilding can be relied upon to do a good job when called upon, having operated as a centre-back, a central midfield player, a sweeper and even as an emergency goalkeeper in his time with Town.
Leon Drysdale
Squad Number: 14
Position: Defender
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 9ins Weight: 10st 12lbs
Born: Walsall
Career (46 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Shrewsbury Town (46/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 11[8]/1
Details: Born in the Midlands, Drysdale has been at Gay Meadow for the entirety of his career, starting out as an apprentice and slowly making his way up through the ranks. Having made his debut in 1999, the right full-back had to wait for another season before getting another chance, but he is gradually imposing himself upon the side, and has appeared as a full-back on a number of occasions this season.
Jason van Blerk
Squad Number: 15
Position: Defender
Age: 34 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st
Born: Sydney, Australia
Career (358 League Appearances/ 21 Goals): Blackdown City (24/3), Leichardt (25/1), St. Truiden (23/2), Leichardt (39/5), Go Ahead (48/5), Millwall (73/2), Manchester City (19/0), West Bromwich Albion (109/3), Stockport County (13/0), Hull City (10/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 20[1]/2
Details: Australian international centre-back with 27 full caps and a goal for his national side. Van Blerk was a scapegoat for Hull City’s failure to win promotion last season, and moved to Shrewsbury on a free transfer in the summer. Having started his career in his homeland, he moved to Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles in 1992 before making the hop across to England a couple of seasons later for £300,000 and joining Millwall. He did well at the Den, but after a year at Manchester City, he was moved on again to West Brom for £250,000. In his last year there he helped the Baggies to win a place in the Play Offs, but his time was up at the Hawthorns, and last year saw free transfers to Stockport and Hull. Since moving to Shropshire, van Blerk has been relatively successful, but his side have yet to adjust to his style of play.
Ryan Lowe
Squad Number: 17
Position: Forward
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 5lbs
Born: Liverpool
Career (68 League Appearances/ 11 Goals): Burscough (no figures available), Shrewsbury Town (68/11)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 23[5]/8
Details: Another nippy striker, who hit 34 goals in his last season with non-League Burscough, Lowe impressed Ratcliffe when on trial in July 2000, notching a goal against Tranmere in his first friendly. That, coupled with his form, meant that the Shrews boss signed the Scouser, although his time at Gay Meadow has only just seen the Merseysider reach double figures. However, he has since scored eight goals already this time around, and the security of a contract until the end of next season seems to have boosted the 24-year-old’s confidence.
Ian Woan
Squad Number: 20
Position: Midfielder
Age: 35 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st 7lbs
Born: Wirrall
Career (260 League Appearances/ 37 Goals): Nottingham Forest (221/31), Barnsley (3/0), Swindon Town (22/3), Shrewsbury Town (14/3)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 19[2]/3
Details: Well-known left-winger who only joined the Shrews last January on a short-term basis, but has had his contract extended for the duration of this campaign even at the ripe old age of 35. Having begun his career by making over 250 League and Cup appearances for Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest, Woan was a young midfielder in their twin Cup runs in 1990 and 1991, having only just signed from Runcorn. As the 90’s progressed, and managers came and went, Woan was a stable figure in the Forest side, but he eventually stopped supplying the goals in 2000, and he moved to Barnsley and Swindon on short-term deals. Although no longer as quick as he once was, Woan can still deliver a precise cross, as Everton fans will recall from last Saturday, when he set up the goal that sent them out of the F.A. Cup. He is still an integral part of the Shrews squad, and has hit three goals this year.
Lee Kendall
Squad Number: 22
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 21 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 14st 4lbs
Born: Newport
Career (0 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Crystal Palace (0/0), Cardiff City (0/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 0/0
Details: Close season signing who offers back-up in the eventuality of an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin. Despite being born in Newport, south Wales, he spent the first four years of his career at Crystal Palace in their reserve side, and when he moved to Cardiff in 2000, he would have been hoping for more of an opportunity. But with Neil Alexander and Martyn Margetson on the Bluebirds books, he was not even seeing reserve football at Ninian Park, and Kendall moved to Gay Meadow, where at least he occupies a spot on the bench.
David Artell (on loan from Rotherham United)
Squad Number: 30
Position: Defender
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 13st 10lbs
Born: Rotherham
Career (37 League Appearances/ 4 Goals): Rotherham United (37/4)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 19/1 (19/1 for Shrewsbury Town)
Details: Young central defender who has been loaned out to Shrewsbury to get experience of league football, having missed out on all of their first season in Division One through injury. Artell had been a success in the centre of defence throughout the 2000/1 campaign, when the Merry Millers won promotion to the second level of League football in England. With Ronnie Moore hoping to survive for another year in the First Division, Artell was moved out to Town to keep him fresh and help him getting ready for tougher challenges ahead.
Alex Smith (on loan from Reading)
Squad Number: 31
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Age: 26 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 10st 6lbs
Born: Liverpool
Career (140 League Appearances/ 7 Goals): Everton (0/0), Swindon Town (31/1), Huddersfield Town (6/0), Chester City (32/2), Port Vale (58/2), Reading (13/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 5[1]/0 (5/0 for Shrewsbury Town)
Details: Scouse left-sided performer who has been frozen out of Reading’s first team by Alan Pardew as the Berkshire side climb the Football League. Smith was on show for Reading’s Reserve side at Didcot when Blues Two’s lost 4-0 there in December, and many Royals’ fans seemed perplexed at his exclusion from the first team, in much the same way as we despair that Neil Jenkins is left out. Smith started out at Everton, but moved to Swindon before making an appearance at Goodison Park. Short spells at Huddersfield and a season at Ratcliffe’s Chester, preceded three years at Port Vale. A talented defender, wing-back or midfielder, Pardew has made him available for transfer, and after just one substitute appearance at the Majeski Stadium this year, Smith finds himself on loan at Shrewsbury. Definitely one to watch out for.
Robert Craven